Towing and Driveline Removal?

[OLDBULL8]

Even if you would use a towdolly, it would have to have the hydraulic surge braking on it. An E350 probably won't fit on a dolly anyhow, wheel base width I think is too wide. You CANNOT BACK UP A Towed DOLLY more than three feet without it JACK KNIFEING.

There is a brake activator called Readybrake.com. You can check them out, but they are expensive, was $560 back in 2005.

That Brakebuddy mentioned before, will apply the towed Vans brakes, but not as good as if you have vacuum for the brake booster.

Another thing is your towbar, it must be rated for the weight of the towed vehicle, and there darn expensive. Check out Roadmaster Falcon $750 + whatever it costs for the mounting. roadmasterinc.com

Unless you own a trailer heavy duty enough to haul your Van, ya better check with U-haul to see if they even will rent a trailer to carry your Van.

 

[icanfixall]

The above posting clears up lots of "ideas" of how to tow a van with a van. I say drive it or trailer it or leave it. The costs are high to get a tow bar or brakes good enough to tow SAFELY.. Nobody here wants to see or read about a tow accident..

 

[Mulochico]

My parents travelled the country towing a Plymouth grand caravan (trans pump setup, brake buddy) with a motorhome. Worked fairly well until he accidently had the brake buddy too tight. Overheated the brakes, nearly burnt up the van (borderline brake fire) and almost warped the aluminum wheels.

I might use one if no other option. I would trailer it (with properly rated trailer, of course). There are dollies rated at 4400#, but I don't think any are rated for a full size van.

 

[tbryanh]

The GVWRs on my vans are 9,500 lbs. The towed vehicle might be fully loaded, so it might weigh 9,500 lbs. None of the equipment rental companies have trailers or tow dollies that can handle 9,500 lbs. A towbar does exist that is rated at 10,000 lbs (http://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/towbars/blackhawk2.html). It is specifically for towing a pickup behind an RV indicating that a van cannot work as the towing vehicle. Also you would be pushing the limits of the tow bar itself.

This article (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...-regularly-towed-ten-thousand-pound-items.htm) says that once the towed vehicle reaches 10,000 lbs, you go from Class III to Class V equipment. Class III equipment probably only requires the common driver license that most people have, but Class V equipment probable requires a special trucker driver license.

From this and the info in the responses to this post, it appears having one van tow the other van is not practicle.

 

[jaluhn83]

Tow dolly gets you absolutely nothing other than getting a pair of wheel of the ground. It's going to add weight and flex.